Turnbull Stakes 2023 Barrier Draw & Final Field

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: Wed 04 Oct 2023 01:41

Bets.com.au Staff 04 Oct 2023

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The barrier draw has been completed for the Turnbull Stakes
The 2023 edition will be run on October 7
This Group 1 headlines Saturday's Flemington card
Final field is included below

Romantic Warrior has drawn barrier eleven in the Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

All eyes will be on Romantic Warrior (barrier 11) when he makes his Australian debut in the Turnbull Stakes, with the Hong Kong galloper the current Cox Plate favourite.

Having recorded 10 wins, three seconds and a fourth from 14 starts, the Danny Shum-trained gelding brings a strong record, while three Group 1 wins along with a 2022 Hong Kong Derby triumph are included in his highlights.

The five-year-old reunites with James McDonald and the pair are unbeaten from three attempts, which includes his last two Group 1 triumphs.

Another international fancied in early Turnbull Stakes markets is West Wind Blows (barrier 8).

A multiple-stakes winner in Europe, the son of Teofilo brings world-class form lines through the likes of Pyledriver and Paddington, albeit he was well beaten by the latter when contesting the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes in July.

With ten furlongs in mind, Osipenko (barrier 6) recorded arguably the run of the Makybe Diva Stakes and the runner-up (Alligator Blood) franked that form seven days later when taking out the Underwood Stakes.

Soulcombe (barrier 2) is a galloper who will likely be peaking for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, although he's been terrific in both spring outings, which includes a return win at Caulfield.

Chris Waller also prepares Francesco Guardi (barrier 7) and El Bodegon (barrier 9).

Gold Trip (barrier 18), Duke De Sessa (barrier 12), Right You Are (barrier 16) and Smokin' Romans (barrier 17) represent the powerful Maher & Eustace stable, with the latter having won last year's Turnbull Stakes at 20/1.

16 runners (plus two emergencies) make up the final field for the 2023 Turnbull Stakes.

Turnbull Stakes 2023 Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Romantic Warrior (IRE)	Danny Shum	James McDonald	11	59kg
2	Gold Trip (FR)	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Mark Zahra	18	58kg
3	Smokin' Romans (NZ)	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jamie Mott	17	58kg
4	Francesco Guardi (IRE)	Chris Waller	Damian Lane	7	57kg
5	West Wind Blows (IRE)	Simon & Ed Crisford	Jamie Spencer	8	56.5kg
6	Emissary (GB)	Michael Moroney	Jamie Kah	5	56kg
7	Osipenko (NZ)	Chris Waller	Damien Oliver	6	56kg
8	Uncle Bryn (GB)	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor	1	56kg
9	Berkeley Square	Dan O'Sullivan	Harry Coffey	14	56kg
10	Bank Maur	Richard Laming	Craig Newitt	4	56kg
11	Soulcombe (GB)	Chris Waller	Craig Williams	2	56kg
12	Duke De Sessa (IRE)	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen	12	56kg
13	Spanish Mission (USA)	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Beau Mertens	10	55kg
14	El Bodegon (IRE)	Chris Waller	Ben Melham	9	55kg
15	Right You Are	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	TBA	16	55kg
16	Lunar Flare	Grahame Begg	Michael Dee	15	54kg
17e	El Patroness	Danny O'Brien	Jye McNeil	3	53kg
18e	Goldman (NZ)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Jordan Childs	13	55kg

Turnbull Stakes Winners

The Turnbull Stakes was first run in 1865, making it one of Australia’s oldest 2000m races.

Named after the former Victorian Racing Club Chairman Richard Turnbull, this set weights and penalties feature has since changed names on a few occasions but the original name was reinstated in 1948.

This Group 1 has been taken out by some of Australia’s finest middle-distance horses including Ajax, Rising Fast, Sunline and Winx.

The Turnbull Stakes is a great race in its own right it is considered one of the main form lines leading into the big three of Victorian racing, the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup & Melbourne Cup.

Verry Elleegant (2020), Incentivise (2021) and Smokin Romans (2022) have won the last three editions of the Turnbull Stakes.